Reminder: Coral Protection Areas on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

NOAA Fisheries - New England - Mid Atlantic Bulletin

July 12, 2021

Reminder: Coral Protection Areas on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine

Effective July 26, 2021

On June 25,  NOAA Fisheries published a final rule to designate coral protection areas on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine.  This action becomes effective on July 26.

This action:

  • Establishes the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area. This area is on the outer continental shelf in New England waters. It complements the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area established by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in January 2017.
  • Prohibits bottom-tending commercial fishing gear (with the exception of red crab pot gear) in the Georges Bank Coral Protection Area to protect deep-sea corals.
  • Designates the Mount Desert Rock and Outer Schoodic Ridge Coral Protection Areas in the Gulf of Maine. Vessels are prohibited from fishing with bottom-tending mobile gear in these areas. Vessels are still able to fish for lobster in these areas using trap gear.
  • Designates the Jordan Basin Dedicated Habitat Research Area in the Gulf of Maine as a dedicated habitat research area.
coral2

For more information, read the final rule or the bulletin posted on the web.

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact Travis Ford, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9233

Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103